Find Your Next Car – Perhaps you’re not quite sure which vehicle is right for you? Use our Research and Reviews sections to help you decide. We have a team of experts working to bring you useful tips and advice, car reviews and tools. Explore your options, and when you’ve narrowed it down, be sure to connect with one of our Certified Dealers.

Car Pro Reviews – Enjoy our most recent new vehicle test drives and reviews OR… Click on a brand you love or one you’d love to get to know better. Either way, you’ll get to ride along with a Car Pro for “Straight Talk and Honest Answers.”

Certified Dealership Program – We have carefully selected dealers in certain cities who share our vision to provide the best car buying experience possible. Use our Dealer Locator by brand and distance, or click on the city closest to you.

Vehicle Inventory Search – If you are in the market for a specific New or Used car, check out our Quick Search to find inventory available from a Car Pro Certified dealer near you! If you find a new car, don’t forget to snag your VIP Certificate before you head that way.

Behind the Velvet Ropes – Whether you’ve been a long time Radio Show listener, or a first time visitor to our site, you’re invited to become a member. Join in the conversation as you explore the site. When you’re ready, experience the thrill of buying your next car the Car Pro way. It’s about who you know. Now, you know Car Pro!

Automakers More Proactive on Recalls – Car Pro News

Automakers have recalled millions of vehicles worldwide in recent weeks, but that doesn’t mean the quality of cars and trucks is declining.
In fact, industry experts say these recalls are a sign that quality is improving.
High-profile problems, such as Toyota Motor Corp.’s issues with unintended acceleration in 2010, have prompted automakers to become far more aggressive in identifying potential problems and notifying consumers when they find them.
“Protecting your reputation is really at the forefront of everybody’s mind,” said Fred Thomas, industry director at Apriso Corp., which makes software that helps manufacturers’ track and control quality. “Nobody is waiting for the federal government to tell them to do something. I think that is probably one of the lessons that came out of Toyota. There is a real focus on driving the highest level of quality while, at the same time, trying to minimize liability.”
Toyota was criticized by lawmakers in the United States for failing to notify consumers after discovering potential problems with unintended acceleration in Japan — until a fatal car crash in California brought the problems to light.
Toyota recalled 510,000 vehicles this month to correct a potential problem with air bags that it said affected about 170,000 vehicles.
“At Toyota, nothing is more important to us than the safety and reliability of our vehicles. Our voluntary recalls are an example of our commitment to standing by our products and being responsive to our customers,” said spokeswoman Cindy Knight. “Our goal is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles.”
In February, Chrysler Group LLC recalled almost 2,000 cars to find and fix 16 vehicles that had damaged fuel tank control valves.
“If you actually index the number of vehicles being recalled, it’s going down, but the number of recalls is going up,” said analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP. “You’re having more recalls than you had before, but far fewer cars are being affected.”
Chrysler’s six most recent recalls involved a total of just 264,000 vehicles, and none of them was associated with a single accident or injury.
“They’re being more sensitive,” Hall said. “The whole idea is to get ahead of it before it gets to (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Before, companies would do a recall when NHTSA said to do a recall.”
Chrysler is being particularly aggressive, he added, because it is working to overcome years of poor quality and re-establish its credibility with consumers.
“Chrysler Group LLC is continually testing and monitoring vehicle performance to find and address issues before our customers experience them,” said Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne. “Two of our most recent recalls were initiated before a single customer complaint was received.”
Software developed by companies such Apriso makes it easier for automakers to do that.
According to Thomas, “Most of the automakers and suppliers believe if we wait for the government to jump in, we’re already too late.” Those that wait to recall vehicles until NHTSA tells them to, he added, become the bad guy, while companies that initiate their own recalls are seen in a more positive light. “People are smart enough to see a recall not just as a negative, but as something proactive on a company’s part.”
He said the increasingly interconnected nature of the global automobile business is also responsible for raising the number of recalls: Automakers are using the same vehicle platforms for more products in more markets around the world, and they are building those vehicles with the same components used by other manufacturers.
“Now, a small problem at one plant can become a global issue,” Thomas said. “It’s great for leveraging economies of scale, but it creates a situation on the defect side where you’ve got to be that much more vigilant.”
This month, for example, six automakers recalled 3.4 million vehicles worldwide because they all shared the same potentially faulty air bag, produced by Takata Corp.
The Japanese supplier, whose U.S. headquarters is in Auburn Hills, said the problem was primarily caused by a faulty manufacturing process at its factory in Moses Lake, Wash.

Join the Car Pro Community

Membership has its privileges. Simply begin to comment and you'll be invited to join. If you'd like to set up an account, you can do that here. If you're already a member, you can see your status below.